What is a PITTA personality or body type?
Because vata, pitta, and kapha are all necessary for our physiology in some way, no one dosha is better or superior to the others. Each of them serves a distinct set of functional roles in the body. However, when the doshas are out of balance, they can have a negative impact on our health. But, before we get into the specifics of each of the three doshas, it's important to understand their elemental makeup and their broader role in nature.
Pitta is composed of the elements fire and water. Pitta is commonly translated as "that which digests things." This is the dosha responsible for our ability to mentally digest our life experiences as well as biologically digest our food, according to Ayurveda. Pitta is in charge of all of our chemical and metabolic processes.
According to Ayurveda, we all have one of three body types: vata, pitta, or kapha. This is your unique constitution, or make-up, and it affects everything from your physiology and body shape to your choices, habits, emotional and mental personality, and susceptibility to certain illnesses. Knowing and working with your individual body type, or dosha, makes it easier to address dietary and lifestyle imbalances that suffocate true health and vitality. So, the first step toward better health is to get to know your own 'body'.
Pitta is fluid physiological energy because it mixes the components of fire and water. This Dosha oversees the body's digestion, metabolism, and transformation. Due to its association with fire, Pitta Dosha is the hottest Dosha. Pitta has the effect of increasing the body's temperature.
Physical characteristics of Pitta body type
The Pitta personality generally have a medium-sized body that is in good shape and usually have well-developed muscles. The Pitta dosha also have soft skin that is sometimes can be slightly oily. When exposed to heat, they sweat profusely, and they blush very easily too. They cannot tolerate the sun and must be protected from it. they are sun sensitive and must be protected from the sun. Pittas usually have normal, straight hair. They are prone to premature greying and/or baldness. Pitta personalities have bright and sharp eyes. They have well-defined brows and eyelashes. They have a strong, piercing voice. Pitta body types have a strong and powerful appetite. They have a soft digestive tract, so dairy / milk, some leafy vegetables, and spicy foods can cause watery stool. They usually have a good night's sleep. They have a lot of energy, and they use it well. They are warm to the touch and crave a cool environment, food, and beverages.
Emotional Characteristics: Pittas are easily irritated and enraged. They are infuriated by hunger, heat, imperfections, and so on. Emotional stress has a strong influence on them. Pittas are efficient, organised, perfectionists with excellent memory. Their ideas and thoughts are rational and well-planned. They are focused, convincing, and command the conversation. Pittas, as perfectionists, try to provide everything doable for their friends and family, but they must also focus on the emotional aspect (sometimes they devote their entire attention to their professional goals/setting up physical things). To maintain relationships, they must manage their anger.
PITTA personality traits
- Sharp, almond-shaped eyes often lighter coloured
- Sharp and intelligent mind
- Intelligent, purposeful, learns quickly, self-determined,
- Strong, natural leaders,
- Quick metabolism, good circulation, healthy skin and hair
- High hairline, with medium amount of soft hair.
- Early greying
- Freckles (red hair is also pitta quality)
- Medium to small frame
- Flexible yet stable joints.
Digestion
Pitta body types prefer to eat more frequently and in larger quantities. Pittas have an excessively hot fire. Excess heat incinerates nutrients in food, causing them to feel hungry most of the time. They often suffer from acid reflux and diarrhea. Most people with pitta digestion are conscious that pitta's strong appetite can lead to a general aversion to skipping meals. As a result, pitta does well to maintain a regular eating schedule and to consume at least three meals per day. Eating at the same times every day also helps to balance an overactive digestive fire.
Lifestyle and exercise
In general, it is vital to slow down, ground yourself, relax, and have fun. Making time for pleasant, experiences. Pace yourself throughout the day and strive for relaxed effort in as many of your commitments as possible. Allow yourself to make mistakes, be easy on yourself while maintaining a sense of responsibility and playfulness. Pitta body types excel in team sports, their competitive spirit and quest to be a winner. Exercise for a pitta person should always be done in the cooler part of the day to avoid overheating.
Tips on keeping Pitta in balance
Vegetables - Pitta-calming vegetables are generally slightly sweet and either bitter, astringent, or both. Raw foods are naturally cooling, and pitta can handle them better than the other doshas, so incorporating a variety of raw fruits and vegetables will generally be beneficial—especially during the warmer months. Avoid combining raw and cooked foods in the same meal. Asparagus, bitter greens, carrots, peas, green beans, zucchini, artichoke, parsnips, okra, celery, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, sweet potatoes, all cooked, small quantities of raw lettuce, carrots or cucumber are all pacifying for Pitta.
Fruits- Sweet, juicy fruits, especially pears, can cool a fiery Pitta quickly. Pitta benefits from sweet and succulent fruits, so think of mangoes, grapes, coconut, papaya, cherries, berries, and even dried fruits such as dates and figs are good for pitta people. Fruits and juices are best consumed alone—at least 30 minutes before, and preferably at least 1 hour after, any other food. Cool deserts, rice pudding and coconut based sweets/ drinks are also pacifying for pitta.
Other lifestyle remedies for pacifying Pitta
While consistency is one of the most important aspects of a daily routine, it does not imply that you must adhere to a strict schedule. Consider it more in terms of creating a sense of regularity that will serve to stabilise your nervous system in a sense of normalcy and wellbeing throughout the day. Your routine could be as simple as getting up and going to bed at the same times every day, or it could be slightly more complicated. In any case, it should only include elements that you believe you can successfully engage with on a routine basis. When it comes to creating more continuity, the best places to start are with sleep and wake times, regular meals, and work schedules. You might also think about going to bed before 10 p.m., when the pitta mind becomes very energetic. You can probably be highly productive late at night, but consistent rest is vital to pitta balance, and you will likely sleep better if you go to bed early.
Herbs for Pitta
Certain herbs are specifically more beneficial for Pitta dosha. Amla or amalaka is a wonderful cooling herb for Pitta dosha. It helps in the removal of Pitta from the digestive system. Amla can be consumed as a fruit or as Amla juice or in the form of Amalaki capsules. Neem is a powerful herb that also helps in Pitta control. Neem is a bitter herb that can help with Pitta vitiation. Neem can be taken as a tablet or as a herb. Triphala capsules are made from three fruits and help to balance Pitta Dosha.
Pranayama
When the fiery, sharp properties of pitta rise in the mind and body as a result of life's pressures or excess heat, peace and quiet are required. Try a meditation with cooling and expansive aspects when excess pitta manifests as mental annoyance, impatience, frustration, or rage. Meditation on the breath returns pitta's acute attention to its delicate anchor, the breath. Surrender the planning, organising, and list-making tasks that often take pitta's focus, and create time for deep silence to reset the mind's tranquillity.
Ayurveda recommend the breathing practise of Sitali breath. Sitali is a breathing technique that cools the body, adds moisture to the system, and relieves Pitta imbalances. Sitali breath can also be used to balance the heat created by a sweaty yoga practise. Gradually aim to build up to a 10-minute practice every day. It will help with the physical and mental symptoms of excess Pitta.
Massage for Pitta
Pitta's primary characteristics are oily, sharp, hot, light, and liquid. Light, cooling oils have traditionally been thought to be the best for balancing pitta. Sesame oil is beneficial to all Dosha types. It is also essential to select an Ayurvedic body massage oil based on the dominant Dosha. Pitta-dominant people benefit from cooling oils, such as Neem oil, or even oils infused with Brahmi herb. Coconut oil can also be used for Pitta dosha.
And lastly…. Following a pitta-pacifying lifestyle, at its most basic, involves inviting more pitta-pacifying qualities into your day-to-day experience, whether through focused practices or the general mindset you cultivate towards life. Once you recognise the triggers, and understand the types of experiences and foods that most soothe and calm your system, then practicing a Pitta pacifying lifestyle is as simple as exercising more good judgement and adopting a lifestyle that keeps the pitta fire in balance. To purposefully fill our days with positive experiences while limiting negative ones.
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Ria Pattni
Ayurveda & Wellbeing writer
